Batting

Game 1 - Whitworth 7, Lewis & Clark 2

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Playing two hours ahead of the originally scheduled time on Sunday, Lewis & Clark and Whitworth were offensively ineffective before the Pioneers allowed six runs in two innings to the visiting Pirates in a 7-2 defeat at Huston Field.

The start time was moved from 12 p.m. to 10 a.m. in an attempt to get ahead of expected rainy weather that ultimately hit in the series finale. The move proved wise, as the game was completed in just over two hours with no delays and the sun peeking through clouds.

Despite the better than expected conditions, neither team could score in the first three innings. Whitworth stranded four baserunners, while Lewis & Clark had only seven batters make plate appearances in the first two innings.

Lewis & Clark threatened in the bottom of the third when Paige Salavea, reaching on a fielder's choice with two outs, stole second base and got to third on a wild pitch by Whitworth starter Madi Perez. Emily Drevdahl struck out, one of five by Perez, to end the inning.

Whitworth added three runs in each of the next two innings. In the fifth, Michelle Silva's double scored two runs before Rude hit a ground ball to second base to score another. Myranda Ramirez hit a triple in the sixth to score Alyssa Hall, who had walked in the leadoff spot. On the next at bat, Chelsey Hayes reached on an error, scoring Ramirez. Three batters later, Morgan Portlock smacked a base hit to center field to score Shannon Wessel, who later homered in the game.

Drevdahl hit her second home run in three games in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Salavea who had led the inning with a single. The Pios went down in order in the seventh.

The homer was Drevdahl's lone hit in three at bats, and Salavea went 1 for 4, as no one for Lewis & Clark had multiple hits. Tiana Rosario, Zoe Juarez and Bruce had the other three hits for Lewis & Clark.

Bruce, a freshman, made her second career start, pitching four innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with four walks and a strikeout. Kalin Rooney and Kaili-Ann Akimseu combined for the final three innings. Rooney gave up six runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout over two innings, while Akimseu faced three batters in the seventh inning, striking out one.

Perez received the complete game win, allowing two runs on five hits.

Game 2 - Whitworth 3, Lewis & Clark 1

Moving the start time of Lewis & Clark's doubleheader finale against the Whitworth Pirates ended up being a smart choice, as two weather delays paused play. The Pioneers lost 3-1, giving Whitworth wins in all four games.

After the Pirates scored one in the first and two in the fourth, Lewis & Clark came up to bat in the seventh inning, trailing by two. Lindsay Yearman (pictured right) led off with a double to left field, but Paige Salavea, Emily Drevdahl and Brooke Koran were out on the next three at bats, all representing the tying run.

Lewis & Clark senior pitcher Jill Pinder started the game, but left after 1 1/3 innings, including a short layoff for the first weather delay between the first and second innings. She allowed three hits and a run with one walk. Drevdahl finished the game with a 5 2/3 innings performance, allowing two runs on eight hits. She struck out one batter and walked two others, while allowing a solo home run by Kelsey Downey in the fourth inning.

"Today was a tough day in the rain. Both teams were battling through delays, trying to re-warm-up and play," said Lewis & Clark head coach Shawna Cyrus. "It was great to see our pitching hold us in that last game. We definitely had opportunities to tie it and win it, but we never came up with that one clutch hit."

The Pioneers lone run came in the bottom of the fourth when Jenai Rojo scored from third during Tiana Rosario's at bat with the bases loaded. Rojo had the inning's first hit before Hannah Dal Pra and Zoe Juarez reached on errors.

Whitworth's other runs came on a first inning double by Chelsey Hayes, and Myranda Ramirez's single two batters after Downey's home run in the fourth.

Salavea finished 2 for 4 and Yearman went 2 for 3, each with a double, to lead Lewis & Clark's offense. Brooke Koran also had a hit.

The Pios play on the road for the first time in Northwest Conference play next weekend against Pacific Lutheran.